Vaccine available in Lamont

Lamont Pharmacy can give Covid-19 vaccines

Owner hopes supply arrives this week

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Alberta Health Services confirmed by press release the start of phase 2A for COVID-19 immunizations at 8 a.m. on Mar. 15.

This next phase of inoculations will target Albertans born between 1947 and 1956, as well as First Nations, Inuit and Métis born in 1971 or earlier.

Additionally, participating pharmacies will begin opening appointments to all Phase 2A groups in order to schedule their vaccines. According to the Alberta Blue Cross website, Lamont County has only one participating pharmacy; Value Drug Mart in Lamont.

“We’ve been approved to administer it, but we are still waiting for supply to arrive,” said Lamont Value Drug Mart owner and pharmacist, Robert Bilan. “It sounds like they had some distribution issues.”

The website further states that pharmacies were chosen to participate in the program based on geographic and population needs as well as a demonstrated ability to handle large volumes of immunizations in short time frames. A total of 102 Alberta pharmacies were anticipated to be taking part at the onset.

In the meantime, Bilan said large numbers of customers have been calling for more information.

“We have been having a lot more phone calls than usual around the vaccine. I’d say about 50 or so a day,” he said.

“The first 15 minutes the store was open today at least 10 people called about the vaccine. I would just hang up from one short conversation then another call would come in.”

Bilan added that he won’t be able to book any appointments until they have a supply of the vaccine on hand.

“They confirmed the supply should arrive this week, but they told us that last week too and then sent an email saying it would be later,” said Bilan. “We’re taking names and once the product arrives, we will call people from the list randomly to make it as fair as possible.” Lamont Value Drug Mart owner/pharmacist Robert Bilan stands in front of his pharmacy counter on Mar. 15. His drug store is the only one in Lamont County approved to participate in distributing the COVID 19 vaccination. Photo: Jana Semeniuk

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